Faulty Product claims - 200 Women Sue WEN Cleansing Conditioner

Around 200 women across 40 states in the US are suing WEN Cleansing Conditioner - a ‘hair cleanser’ as opposed to shampoo - as they believe its products are responsible for hair loss, scalp damage, and other symptoms.

The case is being taken forward as a class action filed in California Federal Court against both the creator of the product and the advertiser. The women involved claim that:

"Wen products can cause severe and possibly permanent damage to hair, including significant hair loss to the point of visible bald spots, hair breakage, scalp irritation, and rash."

A number of the women claimed that the conditioner caused significant hair loss to the point where they had visible bald spots. One women wrote:

“I was a professional model with beautiful long natural hair. After using this product my scalp and face broke out in boils and my hair fell out in chunks.This shampoo destroyed my life.”

Another woman said:

“After I rinsed it I noticed some of the bleached hair in the front was ‘sticky’ like glue and actually breaking off. I am in shock.”

Celebrity stylist Chaz Dean, developer of WEN hair products and Guthy-Renker, producer of the informercials selling the product, released a statement regarding the law suit alleging that the claims are not valid. Also a statement released by a CBS affiliate said:

“There is no scientific evidence to support any claim that our hair care products caused anyone to lose their hair. There are many reasons why individuals may lose their hair, all unrelated to WEN hair products. We intend to vigorously contest the allegations made against our products. And, we encourage any customer with any questions to contact us.”

The claims made in relation to this product are not new - similar smaller law suits were filed in 2014 and in April 2015. In addition, hair loss complaints on consumer websites across the internet relating to WEN products date back five years or more. Complaints about the products have also appeared across social media and in product reviews such as on Amazon, however many users do report positively on the products.

Can I make a claim where a product causes me injury?

If you have suffered an injury as a result of using an unsafe cosmetic product, it is highly likely you will be able to make a personal injury claim. Read our post on cosmetic product claims or to find out more about the personal injury claims process read our complete guide.